5 ms·

Ask HN: Where to go in Portland

5 points by theschwa 17y ago

I've decided to check out Portland Oregon as a place to live, mainly due to what I've heard about it through HN. I'll be up there all this week. What places in the area should I check out that would relate to the HN crowd?

theschwa 17y ago
I've heard Powell's Books technical bookstore, just to start it off.
slimdixon 17y ago
I live in Portland and Powell's Technical Books is a good suggestion. It's a branch of the main Powell's store which is located a couple a blocks up the street. I always recommend that people visit Pittock Mansion early in their trip. It overlooks the whole city and the surroundings of the city (Columbia Gorge, Cascades, Mt. Hood). It's a free thing to do that has tremendous payoff. It allows you to get a good handle on the layout of the city in one fell swoop. Makes the rest of the trip easier. Note: I'm not talking about going IN the mansion. Free Geek is a technology-only thrift-store. There's room for improvement but it's pretty great. I buy stuff there often. http://www.freegeek.org/ http://www.freegeek.org/ There are A LOT of tech-related meetups that go on here. Check upcoming.org for your flavor of discussions. Mostly, I recommend just chilling out a coffee shop like Stumptown.
zkarcher 17y ago
Books: Powell's Technical Books Tech meetups: http://calagator.org/ http://calagator.org/ Retro arcade: Ground Kontrol Nature: 10 zillion wonderful beautiful waterfalls and hikes nearby, I recommend a place called Angel's Rest for starters. Coffee: Crema, Extracto, Stumptown Tea: Townshend's Tea House, Tea Zone, Tao of Tea Food: Pambiche, Pine State Biscuits, Tin Shed, Screen Door, ... there are too many to list, really. Epic food all over. Dessert: Sahagun Chocolates, Cacao, Rimsky-Korsakoffee, Pambiche again Employment: GOOD LUCK... Portland is already oversaturated with talent.
- qhoxie 17y ago
  I've lived here in Portland for about 9 months, and I can safely say this is an excellent list. It should keep you busy for a while.
- wgj 17y ago
  I live in Seattle and visit Portland a lot. I agree this is a very good list. The main Powell's location is just as much a destination as the Technical Books store and the two locations are just a couple blocks apart. Portland's public wi-fi project has never seemed to work very well for me. I don't know if they've improved it recently, but kudos to the city for at least trying. Rimsky-Korsakoffee is quirky and clever with mechanical secrets built into the furniture, and also really good desserts and coffee. Radio Cab is one of my favorite cab companies anywhere I've traveled, but in Portland you always have to call the dispatcher to get a cab. Even when downtown, they don't drive around looking for fares. (Not just for Radio, this is true for all cab companies there.)
- theschwa 17y ago
  I think you just set my itinerary. Thanks a lot.
  - zkarcher 17y ago
    You betcha :D
henrydall 17y ago
It's been awhile since my wife & I lived in Portland, but if it's still there try the Heathman Pub downtown. Really good pizzas!

5 points by theschwa 17y ago

theschwa 17y ago

I've heard Powell's Books technical bookstore, just to start it off.

slimdixon 17y ago

I live in Portland and Powell's Technical Books is a good suggestion. It's a branch of the main Powell's store which is located a couple a blocks up the street. I always recommend that people visit Pittock Mansion early in their trip. It overlooks the whole city and the surroundings of the city (Columbia Gorge, Cascades, Mt. Hood). It's a free thing to do that has tremendous payoff. It allows you to get a good handle on the layout of the city in one fell swoop. Makes the rest of the trip easier. Note: I'm not talking about going IN the mansion. Free Geek is a technology-only thrift-store. There's room for improvement but it's pretty great. I buy stuff there often. http://www.freegeek.org/ http://www.freegeek.org/ There are A LOT of tech-related meetups that go on here. Check upcoming.org for your flavor of discussions. Mostly, I recommend just chilling out a coffee shop like Stumptown.

zkarcher 17y ago

Books: Powell's Technical Books Tech meetups: http://calagator.org/ http://calagator.org/ Retro arcade: Ground Kontrol Nature: 10 zillion wonderful beautiful waterfalls and hikes nearby, I recommend a place called Angel's Rest for starters. Coffee: Crema, Extracto, Stumptown Tea: Townshend's Tea House, Tea Zone, Tao of Tea Food: Pambiche, Pine State Biscuits, Tin Shed, Screen Door, ... there are too many to list, really. Epic food all over. Dessert: Sahagun Chocolates, Cacao, Rimsky-Korsakoffee, Pambiche again Employment: GOOD LUCK... Portland is already oversaturated with talent.

qhoxie 17y ago
I've lived here in Portland for about 9 months, and I can safely say this is an excellent list. It should keep you busy for a while.
wgj 17y ago
I live in Seattle and visit Portland a lot. I agree this is a very good list. The main Powell's location is just as much a destination as the Technical Books store and the two locations are just a couple blocks apart. Portland's public wi-fi project has never seemed to work very well for me. I don't know if they've improved it recently, but kudos to the city for at least trying. Rimsky-Korsakoffee is quirky and clever with mechanical secrets built into the furniture, and also really good desserts and coffee. Radio Cab is one of my favorite cab companies anywhere I've traveled, but in Portland you always have to call the dispatcher to get a cab. Even when downtown, they don't drive around looking for fares. (Not just for Radio, this is true for all cab companies there.)
theschwa 17y ago
I think you just set my itinerary. Thanks a lot.
- zkarcher 17y ago
  You betcha :D

henrydall 17y ago

It's been awhile since my wife & I lived in Portland, but if it's still there try the Heathman Pub downtown. Really good pizzas!